On This Day in History July 12, 2020

Historical Events 1679  Britain's King Charles II ratifies Habeas Corpus Act allowing prisoners right to be imprisoned to be examined by a court 1690  Battle of Boyne: in Ireland, Protestant King William III defeats English Catholic King James II 1790  French Revolution: The Civil Constitution of the Clergy is adopted, putting the Catholic Church in France under the control of the state 1804  Former United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton dies after being shot in a pistol duel by Vice President Aaron Burr 1863  In New Zealand, British forces invade Waikato, home of the Maori King Movement, beginning a new phase of the wars between Maori and Colonial British 1913  150,000 Ulstermen gather and resolve to resist Irish Home Rule by force of arms; since the British Liberals have promised the Irish nationalists Home Rule, civil war appears imminent 1943  World War II: Battle of Prokhorovka - Russians defeat German forces in one of the largest ever tank battles 1957  US Surgeon General Leroy Burney connects smoking with lung cancer More Historical Events Famous Birthdays Bill Cosby 83rd Birthday George Eastman (1854 - 1932) Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862) Malala Yousafzai 23rd Birthday More Famous Birthdays Famous Deaths Alexander Hamilton (1755 - 1804) Gertrude Bell (1868 - 1926) More Famous Deaths